Tire building apparatus



July 5, 1960 H. W. TREVASKIS ETAL TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 13, 1957 JACK MILNER Lowa BY www QTTORNEY- July 5, 1960 H. w. 'rREvAsKis ET AL 2,943,668

TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15,1957

TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 13, 1957 r Y ff-2,943,66s t l BUILDING APrARnTUs .Trevaslrisrrointlleasaut, Blackdown,

near Leamington Spa, and Jack Milner Lowefsutton -V Coldliield, 'England,'as`signors to Dunlop, Rubber ComfpanyLimited, London County, England, a Britishtcom- .-jpanyv Y Iriv r Filed Nov. 13, 1957,Y sei. N0.- 696,156

claims priority, application Gretnrinm Nov. 17, 1956 7 claims. (c1. 154-10) This invention relates to tire building apparatus. `Tire building apparatus is known in which the turnover around bead wires of the side portions of a ply or plies wrapped around a building drum, is effected at each end inflated bag are carried with it until the ply is turned n md States. Panni icc K move from over the drum totheir original positionover K tus'in accordance with the invention;

the supporting means. y l r ',One Iembodiment of the invention will now be` deseribed,`with .reference to the accompanying drawings, in

whichg. p. "."Figure lisa cross-sectional front elevation of appara- Figures 2-8 are diagrammatic cross-sectionalviews of the apparatus of Figure 1 showing stages in its operation. Figure 9` is an axial cross-sectional view of part of an airbag.

The apparatus comprises essentially an expansible building drum 1 and a `pair of cylindrical supporting members 2 and 6 mounted co-axially one on each side of the building drum and attached to the shaft 4 by r. means of screws 3a and 3b respectively. The screws 3a around the lbead wire and laid onto the surface of the drum. l t

It is an object of the present invention to provide ap-A paratus of this kind in which the traversing movement of the sleeve is achieved automatically upon inflation of the airbag without the provision of independent means.

According to the invention tire building apparatus` cornprises an expansible building drum, cylindrical supporting members.located cop-axially one at each end of the drum to support the side portions oftire building fabric extending beyond bead wires located adjacent to each side of the building drum, an annular air bag mounted on each supporting member, means for inating each of the air bags, a sleeve freely movable telescopically over the drum and each supporting member, and abutment means associated with each of the supporting members for causing an axial movement of the bag `from the associated supporting member towards and over the building drum on inflation of the associated air bag against the sleeve so as to effect turn-over of the fabric aroundthe adjacent bead Wire and onto the building surface of the drum.

` In one form of the invention the abutment means causing the axial movement of the air bag comprises a shoulder formed on the supporting member, the shoulder being formed between a portion of the supporting member, extending from the drum, which is of approximately the same external diameter as the external diameter of the contracted building drum, and the remaining portion of the supporting member which can be expanded toa Vsubstantially greater rdiameter than the external diameter `of the drum or which can be permanently of such a diameter. The axial movement is caused by pressure of the air bag against the shoulder. g r In a preferred arrangement, each of the cylindrical supporting means incorporates an inflatable annular tube or tubes upon which is superposed one ofthe air bags. When the tube or tubes is or are deflated the overall diameter of each of the supporting means is substantially the same as that of the contracted drum.A Inflation of the tube or tubes causes the formation of the said annular and 3b. pass through slots in the shaft 4 and a flanged portion" of the supporting member 3 respectively, thus allowing axial adjustment of the members 2 and 3 relative to the drum 1. This assemblyis mounted as a unit on a hollow supporting shaft4 carried in a pairrof spaced-apart bearings (not illustrated) mounted in pedestals (not illustrated) located outboard of one of the supporting members.

A sleeve 5 of diameter somewhat greater than the outside diameter `of the unexpanded supporting members Z and 3 is mounted coaxially with the above-mentioned unit and is freely movable from a disengaged position to positions surrounding either of the supporting members 2 and 3 and into a position surrounding the building drum fabric reinforced inflatable tube 7, and surrounding theV tube are located a plurality of rigid segments 8, each segment having a portion at each end which locates,

.in the collapsed state of the drum, with an annular surface 9 and with a second annular surface 10 when the drum is in the expanded state. In the collapsed state, the segments 8 are separated by a small clearance space but-otherwise surround the entire circumference of the shoulder so that, upon inflation of the superposed air tube 7. Each o f the segments 8 is provided substantially midway between lits ends with a radially outwardly extending projection 11. A resilient rubber sleeve 12 of substantial thickness surrounds the segments 8, the outer periphery of the sleeve 12 .forming Ithe building surface of the drum and the inner periphery of the sleeve having an annular slot 13 formed substantially midway between the end faces thereof within which the projections 11 on the segments locate. This axially locates the `sleeve 12 in position. Detachable rubber shoulder rings 14, having projecting ribs 14a on their inner surfaces for engagement with corresponding grooves on the sleeve 12, are fitted, oneat each of its ends.

The supporting members 2 and 3 are each of similar design and are attached one to'each side of the building drum 1. `One only will therefore be described. Each supporting member comprisestwo rigid cylindrical shells 15 and 16 supported co-axially with the building drum 1 on the shaft 4 and secured together in spaced relation- .shipby'studs 20 and nuts 21. The outside diameter of the shell 16 is smaller than the outside diameter of the rubber sleeve 12 of the building drum 1 when this is in the collapsed state. A plurality of rigid segments, 17, which in the contracted state fit together in cylindrical form, surround lthe cylindrical shell 16 and a Ithin rubber sleeve (not shown) surrounds the segments 17. A pair of co-axial inflatable fabricreinforced tubes 18 is located between the segments 17 and the shell 1S and are inflatable so that the overlying segments `17 are disposed on a pitch circle of increased diameter.

An inatable annular air bag 19 is located co-axially with each supporting member so as to extend over the segments 17 and over the non-expansible cylindrical shell 16. The leading` edge 19a (see FigureV 9) of the porrtionof the bag 19 'overlying the cylindrical ,shell 16 'is a close t therewith and is reinforced with circumferentially extendingturns of inextensible wire22, thus preventing the inner surface of the bag from expanding4 and the bag from sliding -away from the building `former dur-ing expansion of the supportingmemb'er. An indation valve 23 for the bag 19 is provided and extends radially inwardly into the bag and through the cylindrical portion 16. The outside diameter of ythe collapsed air bag 19 is the same as the outside diameter of the contracted rubber sleeve`12 of the building drum .1.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figure l, the segments 17 take up a frusto-conical form tapering towards the building drum, when fully expanded. Stop plates 27 attachedto the segments 17 engage with the Iflange 28 so as to limit the radial expansion of the segments 17 at the end nearer to the building drum. The portions of the segments 17 at the end remote from the building drum are allowed to expand to a greater radius than that of the segments at the other end, and their expansion is limited by the engagement of the head of a bolt 29, attached to each of the segments, with a stop 30 rigidly connected to the cylindrical shell 15.

The sleeve is supported by bearings (not illustrated) on a cantilever arm (not illustrated) which projects from one of the pedestals earlier referred to. The sleeve 5 is movable manually from a disengaged position into the required position and is capable of passing over the drum and supporting members.

Means (not illustrated) are provided for locating bead wires in position adjacent to the shoulders 14. These means comprisel a pair of transversely divisible annuli, located on cantilever arms in predetermined axially spaced-apart relationship, forvholding the beads at the correct axial distance from one another, the annuli being slidable over the unexpanded supporting member 2vand drum 1 and their axial movement being limited by stops so as to locate the beads in the required position. The annuli may then be divided, to release the beads, and removed to a position clear of the rest of the apparatus. u Ari electric motor (not illustrated) is mounted adjacent to the shaft 4 and is drivably connected thereto.

The operation of the apparatus just outlined will now be described. Y

With the drum 1 and each of the supporting members 2 and 3 in the collapsed state and with the sleeve S located in the disengaged position, a ply 24 of tire building fabric is Wrapped around the building drum (see Figure 2) and joined in the usual manner, side portions 24a and Zib of the ply of equal Width extending one over each of the air bags 19 forming the outer periphery of each of the supporting members 2 and 3 respectively.

Bead wire assemblies 25 and 26, carried in the transversely divisible annuli, are passed over the ply 24 from the end of the apparatus remote from the pedestalvb'earings andlocatedin position adjacent to the shoulder gings 14 attached to the rubber sleeve 12 of the building rum. Y

The annuli are each divided transversely so as to disengage them from the bead wires and the annuli are then removed to a position clear of the rest of the apparatus.A The building drum is expanded by iniiating the associated inner tube 7, the ply 24 being expanded so that each of the beads 25 lies against a shoulder ring 14. The sleeve S is, then manually moved into position so that it surrounds along its whole length the' air bag 19, located on the supporting member 2 (see 'Figure 3), and the overlying side portion 24a of the ply 24 and slightly overlaps the building drum. This air bag is then inflated so that the side portion 24a' of the ply is expanded and pressed `into frictional contact with the internal peripheral surface of the sleeve 5. i

The inner tubes 18 associated with the supporting member 2 are then inflated so that the segments 17 are expanded to frusto-conical shape (see Figure 3), the shoulder-forming portion 17a thus being raised clear of the non-expansi'ble 'cylindrical portion 16 of the supporting member 2. Pressure of the air bag 19 against th1s shoulder causes the bag 19 to move automatically axially over the building drum away from the shoulder 17a (see Figure 4), carrying with it the freely supported sleeve 5 andthe side portion 24a of the ply, which is turned around the adjacent bead wirek 25 and laid flat upon the surface of the expanded lbuilding drum 1. Movement of the bag continues until the bag rides over the shoulder 17a formed by the segments 17 (see Figure 5). The bag will then lie in abutting! relationship with this shoulder until the tubes 18 are deflated. When this is eiected the segments 17 are collapsed, and on account of the fact that the building drum is still in its expanded state, the pressure of the air bag 19 on the bead wire 2S, located on the shoulder ring ,14 of the building drum, causes a reverse axial movement of the air bag 19 and consequent movement of the sleeve 5 until the air bag 19 is returned to its original position.

The tapering shape of the supporting members serves to produceY the maximum axial thrust on the rolling bag 19 at the beginning of the tum-over operation, when a greater thrust is necessary, and gradually to reduce the axial thrust to a minimum value at the end of the turnover operation, thus reducing any tendency for the bag to override at the end of the operation. This tendency may cause excessive strain to be placed on the rolling bag valves 23 Vand on any region of the bag 19 which may be bonded, adhered or otherwise secured to the shell 16. l

The same operations in connection with the other supporting member 3 result in the turnover of the other side portion 24b of the ply 24 around the other bead wire 26, and when this has been effected the building of the tire may be completed, the drum collapsed and the assembled tire removed.

In the manufacture of tire covers it is necessary, on account of the varying quality of materials used from day to day, eg., varying moisture content of cotton or rayon cords, to allow for a small adjustment of the width of tire band manufactured so that when the band is formed in a mould, the resulting tire will be of uniform construction despite the above-mentioned variations. In practice the small adjustment of. width is achieved by varying the width of the drum.

' The apparatus just described may be adjusted for the assembly of tire bands of different widths by 'fitting shoulder rings of appropriate thickness to each end of the rubber sleeve 12. The axial positions of the supporting members 2 and 3 on the shaft 4 are correspondingly altered. Y

, In the embodiment described, the air bags 19 are reinforced in the region adjacent to the building drum, but this region may alternatively or additionally, be secured to the surface of the cylindrical shell 16 by bonding thereto. Y

Having now described our invention-what we claim is:

l. Tire building apparatus comprising an expansible building drum, cylindrical supporting members located -coaxially of said drum, one at each end of the drum to support the side portions of tire building fabric extending beyond bead wire emplacements, each supporting member comprising a series of rigid elements extending side by side in a cylindrical formation co-axial with the drum, means to move said elements to a conical structure tapering radially inwardly toward the drum, a sleeve of larger diameter than that of said drum co-axial with and spaced radially outwardly from said drum and movable axally from a position overlying said supporting elements to a position overlying said drum, and annular air bags, one mounted on each of said supports and overlying said elements within said sleeve and inllatable to move over said drum and to move saidsleeve over said drum.

2. The building apparatus of claim 1 in which said means to move said elements to said conical structure comprises an air tube supported within said series of elements and inatable to move said elements radially outwardly, and stops to limit the outward movement of said elements to a relatively smaller Ydiameter at the end nearest the drum and to a larger diameter at the end further from thedrum.

3. Tire building apparatus according to claim l wherein the expansible building drum comprises a cylindrical shell having co-axially mounted thereon an inatable annular tube, a plurality of axially extending rigid segments' surrounding the shell and tube, means for inilating the tube so that the overlying segments are disposed on a pitch circle of increased diameter, and a sleeve of 20 resilient expansible material surrounding the segments.

4. Tire building apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a radially outwardly extending projection is formed on each segment engaging with an annular slot formed on the inner periphery of the surrounding sleeve so as to locate the sleeve relative to the segments.

5, Tire building apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a shoulder ring of resilient expansible material is detacliably attached to an end of the drum sleeve.

6. Tire building apparatus according to claim 1 wherein in the case of each air bag a portion of the air bag References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

